Author's Note: Thank you for those of you who pointed out the already obvious, I am aware that Hawkeye's mother died when he was ten, and she was ill in his memory, however that wasn't the memory where she died. I felt it important that he had a memory when he was with his mother. She was very ill, I figured you would all just realize it wasn't the cancer. Which it wasn't. I am well aware, having seen every epsiode when Mrs. Pierce died. This part of the story line is continued in the next story where Hawkeye explains it a little further.
Hawkeye was pleased when he got off the plane and was greeted by his two best friends and BJ's wife and daughter. "Hawkeye, this is my daughter Erin and my wife Peg. Peg this is Hawkeye," Bj introduced.Peg was a beautiful woman, the pictures BJ had shown him in Korea did her little justice.
"It's wonderful to finally meet you," Peg said grinning. Hawkeye smiled and pulled her into a hug, all too thrilled to admit how pleased he was to meet her.
"I feel like I've known you forever,"Hawkeye said smiling.
"I feel the same about you…what should I call you?"
"Ben or Hawkeye is fine."
"I like Hawkeye," she said grinning.
"So do I, and you must be Erin," he knelt down in front of the sweet little girl and shook her hand.
"Erin this is your Uncle Hawkeye," BJ said kneeling by her side. The girl smiled a toothy grin and moved forward, hugging him around the neck.Hawkeye chuckled and hugged the little girl back.
"Margaret…" he said standing again. He pressed a kiss to her hand lovingly, "it's wonderful to see you again. Margaret grinned and nodded.
"So, how does lunch sound?" BJ asked grinning.
"Sounds delicious, I'm starving,"Hawkeye said chuckling.
"So come on, tell us about Crabapple Cove," BJ said as he walked hand in hand with his wife.Hawkeye had lifted a very willing Erin into his arms to carry her, Margaret by his side.
"Oh it's beautiful, you'll have to come by someday, the work is great," explained Hawkeye, having never felt so happy in his entire life.
"What about your father?" Margaret inquired.
"Can you believe the man hasn't retired yet, he's in his late fifties, you would think he's learn to take it easy," chuckled Hawkeye. "What about you Margaret, what did old Al think when he heard you were giving up the army?"
Margaret smiled gently and shook her head, "he was anything but happy, in fact livid would be a great word for it."
"Well he always was a little special," laughed BJ.
"When we were in Korea he ripped into us about not being proper army,"Hawkeye explained as he looked at Peg.
"Can you believe that…us, un-military, that was like saying Klinger wanted out of the army," Peg grinned at her husband.
"Klinger was probably more anti-army than we were," joked Hawkeye.
"You guys weren't far off," laughed Margaret. Ben grinned at her and shrugged.
"In Korea the only way to stay sane was to act insane," stated Hawkeye.
"It's true…"
"So how is he?" BJ asked again.
"As…Al as ever," it was the only way she knew how to describe her father. In the past two years she had learned the difference between a father and a dad.
"Yes well…that's one thing he'll always be," chuckled Hawkeye.
After lunch they all returned to BJ's house, where Hawkeye was shown his room, and he just got to talk to his friends. The next morning BJ and Margaret proceeded to show Hawkeye the town. Around five Margaret went home to get ready for her little date with Hawkeye.
"You gonna tell her the truth?" BJ asked as he watched his best friend play with his tie. Hawkeye looked in the mirror and turned to look at him.
"You know?"Hawkeye asked.
"For awhile I just kind of assumed, but Hawk, it was obvious to everyone in the camp but you two, how well you fit together,"Hawkeye sighed and sat down beside his best friend.
"She lives here no Beej, this is her life, she loves living near you guys…"
"She'd love living with you more, come on Hawk, I know Margaret, she's missed you as much as you've missed her," stated BJ.
"I don't know if I'm cut out for marriage, I'm not like you Beej, I'm…I'm a womanizer," he stated.
"Hawk…Hawkeye, that all changes, and I know if you told Margaret and you guys did something about it, then it would change for you too. Give her and yourself the chance."
"What about the space between us, good grief Beej, it's the same problem you and I will have. In two weeks I'll go back to Maine, we'll try to keep in touch but…" he stopped and shook his head, he got up and moved back to the mirror to continue fixing his tie, "I shouldn't have come, who am I kidding."
"Hawk, just stop for a minute okay," BJ stood up and moved over to his best friend. "We'll find a way Hawkeye, true friendships last, remember what Colonel Potter said, Friendships are rare in the army. But I found you, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let distance stop you from being a part of my life…of Erin's life. I know Margaret will feel the same way."
"I couldn't move here Beej, as much as I'd love to, I can't, my dad…"
"We'll think of something Hawk, you won't leave Crabapple…Peg always talks about wanting snow, maybe this Christmas we'll come to Crabapple Cove for a real Christmas, snow and all…"
"I'd really like that."
"Good, now tell her, she has the right to know that the only man she ever loved is just as in love with her as she is with him."
"When did you get so smart?"
"I got it from my best friend I met in Korea," he smiled softly and nodded. With a final yank on his tie he took a deep breath and headed out the door, barrowing BJ's car for the night.
Peg came over to him as BJ watched his best friend drive off, she smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist, "I've always wanted tovisit Maine, I hear it's beautiful in the winter and in the summer," BJ grinned as he rubbed her arms, just holding her, enjoying that he was so close to her again.
"What do you think about Christmas in Maine?" he asked gently.
"Sounds lovely…BJ, honey I'd do anything for you, and if it meant going to Maine so you could be close to your best friends, then I would easily and happily follow."
"I love you Peg," he whispered.
"And I you," she replied kissing him on the lips.
She was nervous, she found it so hard to believe, she had been married once already, but she had never felt like this around him. His arm was wrapped around her waist as he walked her to her apartment door. The dinner had been wonderful, the restaurant beautiful, the food delicious, the company…amazing. She felt enamored with him all over again. She smiled as she unlocked the door to the apartment.
"Margaret…tonight has been a dream come true, and I'll be honest when I say I don't want it to end any time soon. I've had two people tell me not to let you go…and if I were to rely on my brain I wouldn't listen to them…but they're right, you deserve to know the truth. I love you, I've been head over heels in love with you for three years. I don't expect you to change your life for me, but you do have the right to know."
She smiled gently at him, leaning forward she kissed his lips, turning she headed into her apartment. He watched her close the door and grinned. He prayed she felt the same way.
Margaret took a deep breath as she leaned against her door. This changed everything. Of course she loved him, she adored him and knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. But she had a life here, a job here, BJ and Peg were here. She and Peg had become so close, she wasn't sure what she'd do without Peg by her side to help her through the tougher moments. As Hawkeye and BJ had found friends in each other, Margaret had instantly found a friend to talk with in Peg, and visa versa.
She took another deep breath and moved away from the door, deciding to think on what he said. Looking at the phone she picked it up and suddenly started dialing, "Peg, its Margaret…can you help me?"
"She didn't say anything Beej…" Ben explained simply.
"Well…when I first told Peg I loved her, she didn't respond right away," BJ replied, hoping to comfort his best friend at least a little.
"Maybe I shouldn't have told her," Ben said getting off the couch and starting to pace.
"No wait a minute, give the woman a little credit where it's due Hawk, she's a strong woman and I'm sure she appreciated the fact you at least told her. Give her time to adjust a little. Good grief Hawk you just told her you love her. She's probably feeling a million different emotions, and she's got to sort through every one of them before she is able to give you the response you're looking for. She loves you Hawk she adores you, she just has to realize it. You said it yourself once, she's so good at keep in all her emotions that to suddenly have them and not be able to share them is hard for her. Give her the chance to at least think about."
"I'm tired, think I'll head off to bed…" Hawkeye got up and headed upstairs.
"Ben…" Ben stopped, it was the first time BJ had ever called him by his first name. He turned to look at his best friend, BJ smiled, "sounds funny coming from me after calling you Hawkeye for two years. She does love you, and once she comes to that conclusion, I know you guys will be happy together,"Hawkeye smiled at his dear friend.
"Thanks Beej, thanks," with that he headed upstairs. Leaving BJ alone in the living room.
Hawkeyesmiled as he awoke to the beautiful aroma of bacon, eggs and pancakes. He grinned, feeling it was almost too good to be true. He had been feeling that way a lot lately since his three years in Korea.
Taking a deep breath he got up from the guest bed, grabbed a pair of pants and a sweat shirt. He headed down stairs, he smiled as Peg looked up from where she stood at the stove.
"Well good morning Hawkeye," greeted Peg fondly. He smiled and took a seat at the bar.
"Good morning, how are you today?" He inquired.
"I am wonderful, BJ's taking a shower, and Erin is still asleep," she filled him in. He nodded.
"Peg…you're Margaret's friend right?" Peg smiled gently, she turned to look at him.
"I'd like to think that we're as close as you and BJ are."
"Has she ever talked to you about me?" He asked gently.
"Hawkeye, as much as I'd love to tell you everything I think that would go under friendship and trust. Would you tell me everything BJ did in Korea?"
"No, I suppose not, although he never did anything," she chuckled.
"I know that Hawkeye, BJ mailed me about the only time he ever had a problem, we've sorted it out. Hawk, can I tell you something about being married?"
"I guess."
"It's all about trusting the person your with. You just have to trust that she knows where her heart is. Just like I had to trust BJ knew where his was."
"In Mill Valley,"Hawkeye replied smiling. Peg nodded.
"Exactly. You can't be married to someone you don't trust."
"You're a good woman Peg Hunnicutt," she grinned.
"Thanks, I like to think so."
"SUPER BABY TO THE RESCUE!" called BJ Hunnicutt as he and Erin came down the stairs, the little girl being held high above his head as she spread her arms out in front of her, giggling.Hawkeye grinned as he watched BJ clutch Erin with one arm and kiss his wife with the other.
"Wonderful just in time for breakfast," Erin said grinning as she kissed both her husband and her daughter.
"You weren't trying to but in on my woman were ya Hawk?" BJ asked jokingly as he sat down beside the man.
"Are you kidding, you've got this woman wrapped around your finger,"Hawkeye chuckled.
"More like I've got him around mine," laughed Peg, "Ben tell me all about Maine, what's Crabapple Cove look like?"Hawkeye grinned.
"It's beautiful, in the winter when it snows, it's really cold but everything is covered in snow and ice it looks majestic. In the fall the leaves are all turning amazing shades of color, I one told a patient of mine that it was like God had made new colors just for you to enjoy."
"Breakfast is served," Peg said placing the food down on the table, a smile on her face.